Generous offer for tradies hit by builder collapse

LIKE many, Professionals commercial leasing agent Mark Molloy was shocked to learn that long established local building business the JM Kelly Group had gone into administration.

He said he really felt for the the workers and wondered what he could do to lend a helping hand.

Talking with landlords of some of the commercial properties he looked after, an answer suddenly emerged.

"I spoke to one of our landlords who have some sheds vacant and they were offering some of those to (JM Kelly) tradies or workers who could see that there was work out there so they could keep rolling," Mr Molloy said.

"If they wanted to open up and give it a go, the landlord was offering six months rent free to help them get on their feet, help them start up.

"The landlord said that's fine, if the sheds are vacant, might as well try and help them out to get the shed going and get the people moving."

The construction site is deserted as tradespeople were left without work.Shayla Bulloch

Mr Molloy said they were offering five sheds in the Central Park Avenue area varying in size from 100sqm, 200sqm, 300sqm to 600sqm.

"They're obviously all good tradies, those businesses have been around for a long time."

"He was saying there must be cabinet makers, plumbers, electricians, those sort of people looking for something.

The Aldi construction site was bare after JM Kelly went into liquidation.Shayla Bulloch

"If they wanted to have a go in a small shed on their own to start up, there's small sheds available or if there's a few of them

and they wanted to put some machinery in a shed for a cabinet making business, well there's bigger sheds there too."

He understood that it cost money to buy equipment and get up and running and by offering six months rent free he said it would provide a welcome kickstart.

After six months in the shed he said they would then look at getting the businesses to sign on to a lease and go from there.